Question

“There were different views of archaeologists on the administration of Harappa.” Explain the statement with examples.

Hint:

The lack of clear evidence for a centralized ruler in Harappa makes it one of the most debated aspects of the civilization's governance.

Answer 1

Archaeologists have debated the nature of Harappan administration, with different views on how the civilization was governed. Some archaeologists suggest that Harappa was governed by a centralized authority, possibly a king or ruler, because of the uniformity in the weight systems, seals, and urban planning across the cities. For instance, the standardized brick sizes in cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa suggest a high degree of centralization and planning.
However, other scholars argue that Harappa may have had a decentralized form of governance, with regional leaders or a council of elders making decisions. Evidence for this theory comes from the lack of monumental palaces or royal insignia, and the lack of clear evidence for a singular ruler. Instead, the Harappans may have had a more egalitarian and decentralized political structure.
Thus, archaeologists have various opinions, with some supporting centralized rule while others favor a decentralized approach, based on the available archaeological evidence.